Egg carton



Aug. 8, 1961 v. E. SWANSON EGG CARTON Filed April 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet1 1 0 ,1 I 4 2 1 w W\ 4 u I um h m w v 1 V O I M w W 9 r m m o 4 4 v a 2l /0 1|, 5 4 5 ll i. F

I I I ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1961 v. E. SWANSON EGG CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 9. 1959 \ldE INVENTOR ATTORNEY Y B 2 H mm H mm 2 N m w. W mmB on 5 n a 8 8 2 Q MN H: x W a F Hv Q United States Patent 2,995,289 EGGCARTON Vernon E. Swanson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Diamond NationalCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 9, 1959, Ser. No.805,186 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) The present invention relates to a onepiece paperboard egg carton, and more particularly to such an egg cartonhaving a high longitudinal partition with narrow, bell-mouthed slotstherein for receiving the transverse partition.

Egg cartons have long been provided which are made of paperboard andwhich are compartmented so that there are a number of cells, eachreceiving an individual egg. These egg cartons are typically made sothat they are in the form of a rather narrow rectangle, having twolongitudinal rows of six egg receiving cells. While there have been manyvariations proposed, at least two general styles may be recognized inwhich there are provided front and back walls, a cover and a bottom. Oneof these styles has two thicknesses of paperboard extendinglongitudinally of the carton, thus to divide the front row of cells fromthe back row of cells and this longitudinal partition had the twothicknesses of paperboard in contact with each other, the longitudinalpartition thus formed rising from approximately the bottom or lowerlevel of the carton to approximately the upper level thereof. The otherstyle had what is known as an inverted V bottom, so that thelongitudinal partition structure consisted of two piles, usuallyintegrally joined at their apex, and diverging outwardly and downwardlyfrom this apex to integrally join with the bottom structure of thecarton.

In the attempts of the art to obtain maximum economy of paperboardmaterial, it was soon recognized that the inverted V bottom styleconsumed less paperboard for a given carton than the other stylementioned, and so great attention was given to this inverted V stylecarton. Initially, the apex of the inverted V of the longitudinalpartition was placed directly underneath and in contact with theunderside of the cover panel of the carton. As the art developed. thisconstruction was considered to be somewhat wasteful of paperboard, andso the apex of the inverted V of the longitudinal partition was loweredso that it extended only about two-thirds of the way upwards to thecover panel. Subsequent to this, there came the development of erectingthese cartons by automatic machinery and these cartons were veryamenable to such erection. It will be understood that as the marketingof eggs took place on ever larger scales, the hand erection of cartons,shipped in knocked down condition to conserve space, was uneconomical,this fact creating the demand for the automatic erection machine.

For purposes of economy, among others, the manufacture of the paperboardegg cartons began with the die cutting of suitable blanks, and theseblanks were folded over along a transverse fold line and a glue flapcaused to adhere to an intermediate panel by means of suitably appliedadhesive. There was thus formed a flattened tube, and one part of thetube was destined to become the longitudinal partition structure of theinverted V configuration and another part of the tube was destined tobecome the transverse partitions. The transverse partitions werelocated, in a known instance, in a single panel, and the automaticerecting machinery first opened up the tube, then rotated the transversepartitions through 90, and finally tucked the inverted V bottomlongitudinal partition so that it extended upwardly, rather than formingthe bottom bight of the tube construction. As an example of suchautomatic machinery, reference is made to Jordan Patent No. 2,700,922dated February 1, 1955.

While the above described machinery has operated ice quitesatisfactorily, and while the economical inverted V bottom cartons havegenerally proven acceptable, as the demand for more and more rapidhandling of the eggs when packaged in the cartons has developed, it hasbeen found that a certain amount of egg break-age has occurred withthese cartons.

In particular, it has been found that the above-mentioned egg breakagehas occurred, in part, from the ability of the eggs to strike each otherduring jostling of the carton because the low and economicallongitudinal partition failed to keep them separated under suchconditions. And while it was true that the prior art has teachingstherein of egg cartons with relatively higher longitudinal partitions,the prior art did not teach the solution that was necessary, vis.,wahigh longitudinal partition carton that could be readily erected withrapidly operating automatic erecting machines.

An object of the present invention is to provide an egg carton made of aone piece paperboard blank which prevents contact of eggs in adjacentcells and which may be readily erected in rapidly operating automaticmachines.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an eggcarton made from a single blank of paperboard, which egg carton providesfor complete separation between the two longitudinal rows of eggs andwhich holds intermediate cross partitions in each of two sectionsthereof in substantial vertical alignment.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one symmetrical half of a blank for an eggcarton in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton in accordance with the presentinvention, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 2, with partsbroken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is -a partial view of the carton viewing the erection thereof andshowing the position that certain parts would take when the carton isbeing erected by automatic machinery;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG.3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6'.

Referring now to the dnawings, wherein like reference characters areused to design-ate like orconresponding parts throughout the severalviews, there is shown in FIG. 1 a blank 10 that is in fact onesymmetrical half of a blank used for erecting the canton of the presentinvention. It will be understood that the blank 10 will erect a six cellunit, and that the completed blank, when erected, will have two suchunits therein which may conveniently be broken apart along a score lineto thereby separate the carton into two units of six eggs each. Theblank 10 pre- ;sents, in order, a tuck flap 11, a cover panel 12, a backpanel 13, -a bottom panel 14, a pair of longtudinal partition panels 15and 16, a second bottom panel 17, a front panel 18, a cross partitionpanel 19, and a glue fia-p 20. As is conventional, the solid linesrepresent cuts and margins, and the dotted lines represent score linesor folds. It may therefore be seen that each of the abovementionedpanels and flaps is separated from the adjoining panel or flap by ascore line, and that the blank will ultimately be folded at each of thescore lines except at a score line 19 extending centrally across thepartition panel 19. However, this fold line will give the cartonresiliency and strength when subject to pressure applied.

to the front or back panels when the carton is erected, as willsubsequently become apparent.

The bottom panels 14 and 17 each have a pair of transversely extendingslots 22 therein adjacent the lateral margins thereof. Each of thebottom panels 14 and 17 also have a pair of spaced feet lugs 23 severedtherefrom on three sides and integrally joined to the adjacentlongitudinal partition panel. Hence, the feet lugs 23 in bottom panel 14are integrally joined to the longitudinal partition panel 15 and thefeet lugs 23 in the bottom panel 17 are integrally joined to thelongtudinal partition panel 16.

The longitudinal partition panels 15 and 16 have a transverselyextending slot 24 near the left margin thereof and a similartransversely extending slot 25 near the right margin thereof. The slots24 and 25 are end slots, and extend substantially continuously fromadjacent the fold line between bottom panel 14 and longitudinalpartition panel 15 to adjacent the fold line between bottom panel 17 andlongitudinal partition panel 16.

Each of the longitudinal partition panels 15 and 16 has a pair ofintermediate slots 30 and 31 therein. Each of the intermediate slots 30,31 are identical in construction, and each is defined by a first margin32 that extends transversely from the fold line between the longitudinalpartition panels 15 and 16, and by a second margin 33 that is spacedfrom the first margin 32 and extends from the aforementioned fold lineat an angle towards the first margin 32, and thence in parallelrelationship thereto. Further, the first margin 32 of an intermediateslot 30, 31 in one of the longitudinal partition panels 15, 16 is joinedto the second margin 33 of an intermediate slot in the other one of thelongitudinal partition panels 15, 16, it being noted that these secondmargins 33 are in linear alignment. Hence, the slots present aconfiguration that is generally zig-zag, and which has a relatively wideconnecting part at the fold line between the partion panels 15 and 16.

The cross partition panel 19, which may be seen to have a fold linethereacross, comprises a pair of full depth cross partitions 40 and 41and a pair of shallow depth cross partitions 42 and 43 therebetween. Thefull depth cross partitions 40 and 41 each has a pair of spacedextensions 44, and these extensions 44 have hooks 45 thereon, the hooks45 facing each other. Between the hooks 45 there is a pendent portion46. Each of the shallow depth cross partitions 42 and 43 has a pair ofspaced triangular apertures 47 which is located at the margin of thepartition that is adjacent the other one of the shallow depth crosspartitions.

It will be observed that the width W15 of longitudinal partition panel15 is equal to the width W16 of longitudinal partition panel 16, and isgreater than the width W18 of the front panel 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there may be seen a perspective view of acarton erected from the blank shown in FIG. 1. The carton, generallydesignated 50, may be seen to have a front 18 and a back 13 and a cover12 integrally joined to the back 13. In the closed condition of thecarton, shown in FIG. 4, the cover 12 extends forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to the front 18, and is held in this position byengagement of the tuck flap 11 with parts of the transverse partitionstructure. The carton 50 also has a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure, generally designated 51 and this structure 51 maybe seen to be integral with the front 18 and back 13 and to comprise thegently sloping bottoms 14 and 17 which are integrally and hingedlyjoined to the lower margins of the back 13 and front 18, respectively.Integrally joined to the other margins of the bottoms 14 and 17 is apair of sharply rising longitudinal partition panels and 16, thesepanels extending upwardly to an apex at 52. As may be seen from FIG. 4,the apex 52 underlies and is in contact with the underside of the cover12. There may also be seen in FIG. 2 the shallow depth cross partitions42 and 43 extending through the parti- 4 tion panels 15 and 16, andjoined to the front 18, and to the back 13 by the glue fiap 20.

In FIG. 3, there may be seen the apex 52 extending between and generallyparallel to the back 13 and the front 18. There are also shown the fulldepth transverse partitions 40 and 41 and the shallow depth crosspartitions 42 and 43. The full depth cross partitions 40 and 41 may beseen to extend through the slots 24 and 25, respectively at the ends ofthe unit, and the shallow depth cross partitions 42 and 43 may be seento extend through the slots 30 and 31 in the longitudinal partitionformed by the panels 15 and 16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a partial cross sectional viewof the carton of the present invention during the erection thereof, andit may be seen that the longitudinal panels 16 and 15 are movingupwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow, and that shorttransverse partition 42, which is relatively stationary, is enteringinto to bell shaped mouth of the slots 30, formed by the angled upperportion 55 thereof.

In FIG. 6, the shallow depth cross partition 42 may be seen to haveentered into the slot 30, and to have engagement, on either sidethereof, with the margins of the two slots 30. This is shown in FIG. 7,where it may be seen that the linearly aligned second margins 33 of thetwo slots 30 in the panels 15 and 16 are in engagement with thepartition 42 on offset opposite sides thereof. This abuttingrelationship between the margins 33 of the two slots 30 and the shallowdepth cross partition 42 is such that the partition 42 is braced fromeither side and thereby serves to provide for a sturdier carton and onein which the eggs in adjoining cells on either side of the partition 42will be prevented from engaging each other. It will be noted in theerected carton that the margins 33 are in offset relation to the foldline 19' formed on the shallow depth cross-partitions 42, 43 by virtueof the diverging relationship of the partition panels 15, 16. Thus, whenpressure is applied at the front or back panels 18, 13, as indicated bythe direction arrows P on FIG. 4, the partitions 41, 42 tend to bow orfulcrum outwardly from their general plane about the fold line 19' atthe margins 33 and bind against transverse movement across the margins33 to tend to stabilize or rigidify the front and back panels 18, 13when subject to the mentioned pressures.

There has been provided an egg carton affording superior protection andseparation between eggs in the front and back longitudinal rows thereof,and this egg carton has intermediate slots in the longitudinal partitionthereof so shaped that erection of the carton by automatic machinery maybe accomplished readily, and without erratic or incomplete erectionactions. Also, the carton of the present invention is such that theintermediate cross partitions are buttressed for additional support bythe longitudinal partition and for better separation of eggs inadjoining cells in a single longitudinal row. These abutments alsoafford tautness to the cross partitions, which results in greaterstrength to resist hand pressure from front to rear of the carton, sinceany bulging tendency is avoided.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a paperboard egg carton comprising, in order, a tuckflap, a cover panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a pair oflongitudinal partition panels, a second bottom panel, a front panel, across partition panel. and a glue flap, said flaps and panels beingseparated by fold lines, said bottom panels each having a pair oftransversely extending slots therein adjacent the lateral marginsthereof, said longitudinal partition panels having a transverselyextending slot therein adjacent each lateral margins thereof, said endslots extending substantially continuously from adjacent the fold linebetween one said longitudinal panel and the adjacent bottom panel toadjacent the fold line between the other longitudinal panel and theother bottom panel, each of said longitudinal partition panels furtherhaving a pair of intermediate slots therein between said end slots, eachsaid intermediate slot being defined by a first margin extendingtransversely from the fold line between said longitudinal partitionpanels and by a second margin spaced therefrom and extending from saidfold line at an angle toward said first margin and thence in parallelrelationship to said first margin, the first margin of an intermediateslot in one longitudinal partition panel joining the second margin of anintermediate slot in the other longitudinal partition panel, said secondmargins being in linear alignment, said cross partition panel comprisinga pair of full depth cross partitions and a pair of shallow depth crosspartitions therebetween, a fold line extending from lateral side edgesof the blank centrally of said cross partition panel, said full depthcross partitions each having extensions with a pair of facing hooksthereon and a pendent member between said extensions, each said shallowdepth cross partitions having a pair of spaced triangular apertures atthe margin thereof that is adjacent said other shallow depth crosspartition, the combined width of each of said longitudinal partitionpanels and an adjacent bottom panel being coequal and greater than oneand one-half the width of said front panel for providing a longitudinalpartition which will linearly abut the under surface of said cover panelwhen the carton is erected.

2. A blank for a paperboard egg carton comprising, in order, a tuckflap, a cover panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a pair oflongitudinal partition panels, a second bottom panel, a front panel, across partition panel, and a glue flap, said flaps and panels beingseparated by fold lines, said bottom panels each having a pair oftransversely extending slots therein adjacent the lateral marginsthereof, said longitudinal partition panels having a transverselyextending slot therein adjacent the lateral margins thereof, each ofsaid longitudinal partition panels further having a pair of intermediateslots therein between said end slots, each said intermediate slot beingdefined by a first margin extending transversely from the fold linebetween said longitudinal partition panels and by a second margin spacedtherefrom and extending from said fold line at an angle toward saidfirst margin and thence in parallel relationship to said first margin,the first margin of an intermediate slot in one longitudinal partitionpanel joining the second margin of an intermediate slot in the otherlongitudinal partition panel, said second margins being in linearalignment, said cross partition panel comprising a pair of full depthcross partitions and a pair of shallow depth cross partitionstherebetween, a fold line extending from lateral side edges of the blankcentrally of said cross partition panel, said full depth crosspartitions each having extensions with a pair of facing hooks thereonand a pendent member between said extensions, each said shallow depthcross partitions having a pair of spaced triangular apertures at themargin thereof that is adjacent said other shallow depth crosspartition, the combined width of each of said longitudinal partitionpanels and an adjacent bottom panel being coequal and greater than oneand one-half the width of said front panel for providing a longitudinalpartition which will linearly abut the under surface of the cover panelwhen the carton is erected.

3. A blank for a paperboard egg carton comprising, in order, a tuckflap, a cover panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a pair oflongitudinal partition panels, a second bottom panel, a front panel, across partition panel, and a glue flap, said flaps and panels beingseparated by fold lines, said bottom panels each having a pair oftransversely extending slots therein adjacent the lateral marginsthereof, said longitudinal partition panels having a transverselyextending slot therein adjacent the lateral margins thereof, each ofsaid longitudinal partition panels further having a pair of intermediateslots therein between said end slots, each said intermediate slot beingdefined by a first margin extending transversely from the fold linebetween said longitudinal partition panels and by a second margin spacedtherefrom and extending from said fold line at an angle toward saidfirst margin and thence in parallel relationship to said first margin,the first margin of an intermediate slot in one longitudinal partitionpanel joining the second margin of an intermediate slot in the otherlongitudinal partition panel, said second margins being in linearalignment, said cross partition panel comprising a pair of full depthcross partitions and a pair of shallow depth cross partitionstherebetween, a fold line extending from lateral side edges of the blankcentrally of said cross partition panel, each said shallow depth crosspartitions having a pair of spaced triangular apertures at the marginthereof that is adjacent said other shallow depth cross partition, thecombined width of each of said longitudinal pantit-ion panels and anadjacent bottom panel being coequal and greater than one and one-halfthe width of said front panel for providing a longitudinal partitionwhich will linearly abut the under surface of the cover panel when thecarton is erected.

4. A blank for a paperboard egg carton comprising, in part, a tuck flap,a cover panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a pair of longitudinalpartition panels, a second bottom panel, a front panel, a crosspartition panel, and a glue flap, said flaps and panels being separatedby fold lines, said bottom panels each having a pair of transverselyextending slots therein adjacent the lateral margins thereof, saidlongitudinal partition panels having a transversely extending slottherein adjacent the lateral margins thereof, each of said longitudinalpartition panels further having a pair of intermediate slots thereinbetween said end slots, each said intermediate slot being defined by afirst margin extending transversely from the fold line between saidlongitudinal partition panels and by a second margin spaced therefromand extending from said fold line at an angle toward said first marginand thence in parallel relationship to said first margin, the firstmargin of an intermediate slot in one longitudinal partition paneljoining the second margin of an intermediate slot in the otherlongitudinal partition panel, said second margins being in linearalignment, said cross partition panel comprising a pair of full depthcross partitions and a pair of shallow depth cross partitionstherebetween, a fold line extending from lateral side edges of the blankcentrally of said cross partition panel, the combined Width of each ofsaid longitudinal partition panels and an adjacent bottom panel beingcoequal and greater than one and one-half the width of said front panelfor providing a longitudinal partition which will linearly abut theunder surface of the cover panel when the carton is erected.

5. A blank for a paperboard egg carton comprising, in part, a tuck flap,a cover panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a pair of longitudinalpartition panels, a second bottom panel, a front panel, a crosspartition panel, and a glue flap, said flaps and panels being separatedby fold lines, said longitudinal panels having a pair of intermediateslots therein, each said slot being defined by a first margin extendingtransversely from the fold line between said longitudinal partitionpanels and by a second margin spaced therefrom and extending from saidfold line at an angle toward said first margin and thence in parallelrelationship to said first margin, the first margin of an intermediateslot in one longitudinal partition panel joining the second margin of anintermediate slot in the other longitudinal partition panel, said secondmargins being in linear alignment, said cross partition panel comprisinga pair of full depth cross partitions and a pair of shallow depth crosspartitions therebetween, a fold line extending from lateral side edgesof the blank centrally of said cross partition panel, the combined widthof each of said longitudinal partition panels and an adjacent bottompanel being coequal and greater than one and one-half the width of saidfront panel for providing a longitudinal partition which will linearlyabut the under surface of the cover panel when the carton is erected.

6. A paperboard set-up egg carton comprising a front, a back, a coverintegral with said back and extending forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to said front, a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure integral with said front and back and comprising apair of gently sloping bottoms integrally and hingedly joined to thelower margins of said back and front and a pair of sharply risingpartition panels extending upwardly in spaced angular relation to anapex and foldably joined at their lower margins to said bottoms, saidapex underlying and in contact with the underside of said cover, saidlongitudinal panels having margins therein defining a pair ofintermediate slots, the margins defining an intermediate slot in onepanel comprising a first margin lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said apex and extending therefrom, and a second marginspaced from said first margin and having a lower portion substantiallyparallel to said first margin and an upper portion extending from theupper end of said lower portion, and angled away from said first margin,to said apex, the margins defining an adjacent spaced intermediate slotin the other panel being similar to said first and second margins anddiametrically opposed thereto with the angled upper portion of each saidsecond margin joining the upper portion of the first margin in the otherpanel, the second margins being in spaced co-planar relation, whereby toprovide a bell-mouthed opening at the apex communicating with saidintermediate slots, said longitudinal panels further having marginstherein defining a pair of slots adjacent the ends of said panels, saidmargins at each end of each panel extending downwardly from said apex inspaced parallel relationship and each margin in one panel lying in thesame transverse plane as a margin in the other panel, a pair of fulldepth cross partitions joined to said front and back adjacent the uppermargins thereof and extending through said end slots and a pair ofshallow depth cross partitions similarly joined to said front and backand extending through said intermediate slots, said shallow depth crosspartitions including a vertical fold line extending from the upper andlower margins thereof between said spaced second margins, said secondmargins forming spaced abutments for said shallow depth partitions, onesuch second margin being offset on either side of each of said shallowdepth partitions, said bottoms having slots therein adjacent the endsthereof and receiving the lower parts of said full depth partitionstherethrough, said full depth partitions having inwardly directed hookson the lower ends thereof in engagement with said longitudinal bottomand partition structure, each said cross partition having a pair ofspaced upwardly converging margins in the lower central part thereof andlying outwardly of said panels, and a member on each partition dependingbetween said margins and extending downwardly between said panels.

7. A paperboard set-up egg carton comprising a front, a back, a coverintegral with said back and extending forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to said front, a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure integral with said front and back and comprising apair of gently sloping bottoms integrally and hingedly joined to thelower margins of said back and front and a pair of sharply risingpartition panels extending upwardly in spaced angular relation to anapex and foldably joined at their lower margins to said bottoms, saidapex underlying and in contact with the underside of said cover, saidlongitudinal panels having margins therein defining a pair ofintermediate slots, the margins defining an intermediate slot in onepanel comprising a first margin lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said apex and extending therefrom, and a second marginspaced from said first margin and having a lower portion substantiallyparallel to said first margin and an upper portion extending from theupper end of said lower portion, and angled away from said first margin,to said apex, the margins defining an adjacent spaced intermediate slotin the other panel being similar to said first and second margins anddiametrically opposed thereto with the angled upper portion of each saidsecond margin joining the upper portion of the first margin in the otherpanel, the second margins being in spaced co-planar relation, whereby toprovide a bell-mouthed opening at the apex corn municatnig with saidintermediate slots, said longitudinal panels further having marginstherein defining a pair of slots adjacent the ends of said panels, saidmargins at each end of each panel extending downwardly from said apex inspaced parallel relationship and each margin in one panel lying in thesame transverse plane as a margin in the other panel, a pair of fulldepth cross partitions joined to said front and back adjacent the uppermargins thereof and extending through said end slots and a pair ofshallow depth cross partitions similarly joined to said front and backand extending through said intermediate slots, said shallow depth crosspartitions including a vertical fold line extending from the upper andlower margins thereof between said spaced second margins, said secondmargins forming spaced abutments for said shallow depth partitions, onesuch second margin being offset on either side of each of said shallowdepth partitions, said bottoms having slots therein adjacent the endsthereof and reciving the lower parts of said full depth partitionstherethrough, said full depth partitions having inwardly directed hookson the lower ends thereof in engagement with said longitudinal bottomand partition structure.

8. A paperboard set-up egg carton comprising a front, a back, a coverintegral with said back and extending forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to said front, a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure integral. with said front and back and comprising apair of gently sloping bottoms integrally and hingedly joined to thelower margins of said back and front and a pair of sharply risingpartition panels extending upwardly in spaced angular relation to anapex and foldably joined at their lower margins to said bottoms, saidapex underlying and in contact with the underside of said cover, saidlongitudinal panels having margins therein defining a pair ofintermediate slots, the margins defining an intermediate slot in onepanel comprising a first margin lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said apex and extending therefrom, and a second marginspaced from said first margin and having a lower portion substantiallyparallel to said first margin and an upper portion extending from theupper end of said lower portion, and angled away from said first margin,to said apex, the margins defining an adjacent spaced intermediate slotin the other panel being similar to said first and second margins anddiametrically opposed thereto with the angled upper portion of each saidsecond margin joining the upper portion of the first margin in the otherpanel, the second margins being in spaced co-planar relation, whereby toprovide a bell-mouthed opening at the apex communicating with saidintermediate slots, said longitudinal panels further having marginstherein defining a pair of slots adjacent the ends of said panels, saidmargins at each end of each panel extending downwardly from said apex inspaced parallel relationship and each margin in one panel lying in thesame transverse plane as a margin in the other panel, a pair of fulldepth cross partitions joined to said front and back adjacent the uppermargins thereof and extending through said end slots and a pair ofshallow depth. cross partitions similarly joined to said front and backand extending through said intermediate slots, said shallow depth crosspartitions including a vertical fold line extending from the upper andlower margins thereof between said spaced second margins, said secondmargins forming spaced abutments for said shallow depth portions, onesuch second margin being oflset on either side of each of said shallowdepth partitions, said bottoms having slots therein adjacent the endsthereof and receiving the lower parts of said full depth partitionstherethrough.

9. A paperboard set-up egg carton comprising a front, a back, a coverintegral with said back and extending forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to said front, a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure integral with said front and back and comprising apair of gently sloping bottoms integrally and hingedly joined to thelower margins of said back and front and a pair of sharply risingpartition panels extending upwardly in spaced angular relation to anapex and foldably joined at their lower margins to said bottoms, saidapex engaging the underside of said cover, said longitudinal panelshaving margins therein defining a pair of intermediate slots, themargins defining an intermediate slot in one panel comprising a firstmargin lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to said apex andextending therefrom, and a second margin spaced from said first marginand having a lower portion substantially parallel to said first marginand an upper portion extending from the upper end of said lower portion,and angled away from said first margin, to said apex, the marginsdefining an adjacent spaced intermediate slot in the other panel beingsimilar to said first and second margins and diametrically opposedthereto with the angled upper portion of each said second margin joiningthe upper portion of the first margin in the other panel, the secondmargins being in spaced co-planar relation, whereby to provide abellmouthed opening at the apex communicating with said intermediateslots, said longitudinal panels further having margins therein defininga pair of slots adjacent the ends of said panels, a pair of full depthcross partitions joined to said front said back adjacent the uppermargins thereof and extending through said end slots and a pair ofshallow depth cross partitions similarly joined to said front and backand extending through said intermediate slots, said shallow depth crosspartitions including a vertical fold line extending from the upper andlower margins thereof between said spaced second margins, said secondmargins forming spaced abutments for said shallow depth partitions, onesuch second margin being offset on either side of each of said shallowdepth partitions.

10. A paperboard set-up egg canton comprising a front, a back, a coverintegral with said back and extending forwardly in a generallyhorizontal plane to said front, a longitudinally extending bottom andpartition structure integral with said front and back and comprising apair of gently sloping bottoms integrally and hingedly joined to thelower margins of said back and front and a pair of sharply risingpartition panels extending upwardly in spaced angular relation to anapex and foldably joined at their lower margins to said bottoms, saidapex closely engaging the underside of said cover, said longitudinalpanels having margins therein defining a pair of intermediate slots, themargins defining an intermediate slot in one panel comprising a firstmargin lying ina plane substantially perpendicular to said apex andextending therefrom, and a second margin spaced from said first marginand having a lower portion substantially parallel to said first marginand an upper portion extending from the upper end of said lower portion,and angled away from said first margin, to said apex, the marginsdefining an adjacent spaced intermediate slot in the other panel beingsimilar to said first and second margins and diametrically opposedthereto with the angled upper portion of each said second margin joiningthe upper portion of the first margin in the other panel, the secondmargins being in spaced co-planar relation, whereby to provide abell-mouthed opening at the apex communicating with said intermediateslots, and a pair of shallow depth cross partitions joined to said frontand back and extending through said intermediate slots, said shallowdepth cross partitions including a vertical fold line extending from theupper and lower margins thereof between said spaced second margins, saidsecond margins forming spaced abutments for said shallow depthpartitions, one such second margin being oifset on either side of eachof said shallow depth partitions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,106,613 Levkoif Jan. 25, 1938 2,321,209 Ho lwick June 8, 19432,340,753 Inman Feb. 1, 1944 2,664,234 Burger Dec. 29, 1953 2,766,924Cormier Oct. 16, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,041 Great Britain Mar. 10,1939

